WATCH: Zimbabwe elections discussed in UK parliament

Yesterday Labour MP for Vauxhall Kate Hoey, who also chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe, asked British PM Theresa May a question on the Zimbabwean election.

Below is the exchange:

Kate Hoey MP: "Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister will know that later this month Zimbabwe will have its first elections since Mugabe was ousted by a military coup. Recently my friend the honourable member for Bournemouth West and myself had returned from Zimbabwe, we heard from Zimbabweans the concern that this will not be a genuinely free and fair election. Will the Prime Minister, the constitution is not being adhered to and the opposition have no chance to getting to the State media will the Prime Minister give an assurance that our government will not rush in to agreeing that this is a free and fair election until we have seen that this really means change and not just for the election."

Theresa May PM: "Can I say to the honourable lady, I commend the excellent work she continues to do as Chair of the APPG on Zimbabwe. And obviously we welcome the announcement of the date of election on the 30th of July but we are urging all parties involved to pursue free, fair and peaceful elections because ..... that is absolutely what Zimbabwean people deserve and we will certainly ...... work very carefully how those elections are conducted and consider the conduct of those elections as appropriate. We have repeatedly said at least if the Zimbabwean government can demonstrate commitment to political and economic reform then the UK stands ready to do all it can to support its recovery but obviously not commitment is just essential.